Sunday, October 30, 2011

Week 10 is a pretty big week. The cream has pretty much risen to the top and, barring a major surprise or two, it appears that the stage is set for one of the teams from the SEC to again be the BCS "National Champion." Well, in the big game at the very least.

1. LSU vs Alabama: Here it is. One of these teams will be in the driver seat not only for the SEC Championship game but also reaching the big game at the end. Which is the better team? LSU. Will they win? Hard to say. I have watched both squads a few times this year and Alabama reminds me just a bit of Oklahoma. They are beatable and will be so come Saturday. Go with the Tigers.

2. Northern Illinois vs Toledo: The MAC is the Rocket's to lose. Toledo seems to be much better than your average MAC team and should win this one with relative ease.

3. Temple vs Ohio: This is a must win for both teams. Temple is the better team but it is proven that they will lose games to lessor opponents. Same goes for the Bobcats of Ohio. I will go with the Owls here.

4. FSU vs Boston College: The Seminoles are righting the ship and should have very little problem ere. Go with FSU.

5. Tulsa vs UCF: Tulsa is having a pretty decent season thus far. 4-0 in conference play with a beat down of SMU in their last outing. UCF has imploded (somewhat) and it is doubtful they will keep up here. Go with Tulsa.

6. Michigan St vs MN: The Gophers finally got one last week with a victory over the Hawkeyes. MSU just could not replicate their stellar performance of a couple of weeks back. That being said, the Spartans will have little trouble here and will come away with a victory.

7. New Mexico St vs Georgia: Georgia is benefiting from a rather easy sked this year. While no SEC team has it easy, Georgia escapes Alabama, LSU and Arkansas. They have already been taken down by South Carolina. They should have little trouble here although these Aggies may be somewhat tougher than they think. Go with the Bulldogs here.

8. ULL vs ULM: The Cajuns need to keep winning. They are the better team here although some of the Warhawks problems are likely coaching rather than talent related. This is a rivalry game and will be quite close but I look for the Cajuns to pull it out of the hat.

9. Texas Tech vs Texas: Tech is a funny animal to say the least. One week they can play with anybody and the next look like they could lose to any D1 (and some IAA) teams. They are hard to figure sure. Texas has some problems but still is certainly no team to be taken lightly by anyone. I think that the Raiders will right the ship and the good team will come to play. Go with TTU in a close one.

10. ASU vs Florida Atlantic: ASU is right there in the Sun Belt. Probably even in the driver seat at this point. They should have little problem with a pretty dismal Owl team this weekend. Go with ASU.

11. Kansas St vs Oklahoma State: Can KSU bounce back after the butt whipping they got at the hands of the Sooners?. They will but it won't be this week. If anything, OSU is better than Oklahoma and should win this one. KSU has a tough row to hoe the next few weeks and will lose at least 2 this season. OSU may well run the table.

12. Tulane vs SMU: SMU has to win here to stay in contention. It is a must. They should do so. Go with the Mustangs here.

13. Duke vs Miami (FL): The Hurricanes should win but it certainly is not a given. Duke is not a good team, but they are better than many teams of the past. It will not be easy but Miami should come out on top. If the Canes are to reach any kind of respectable bowl this year then they have to right the ship quickly.

14. Houston vs UAB: The Cougars are beatable but the Blazers are not the team that will beat them. It just won't happen. Go with Houston.

15. USM vs ECU: USM is a very good albeit under the radar football team. ECU is 3-1 in conference and still in contention. This game will likely decide who goes to the CUSA championship game. I go with USM to roll.

16. South Carolina vs Arkansas: The Hogs certainly have struggled a bit recently in their skin of the teeth victories over Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. They are lucky they did not lose both games. South Carolina is a good, but certainly not a great team. These two squads are probably pretty even and I will go with the Hogs in a close one.

17. TAMU vs Oklahoma: If Oklahoma is to keep their slim shot a reaching the BCS Championship Game alive then they must run the table here on out. They won't do that likely but they should beat the Aggies. The Aggies should be undefeated at this point but something is just missing. If the talent is on the field, and it certainly is in Aggieland, then the problem has to be coaching. Don't look for Sherman to last long. Go with the Sooners here.

18. Stanford vs Oregon State: Is it time to seriously start talking about Stanford as potential "national champions?" Perhaps so or perhaps not. They do play in the PAC 12 which diminishes their stature a bit. That being said they should have little problem here. Go with Stanford with relative ease.

19. SDSU vs New Mexico: The bloom is off the Aztecs a bit this season but they should have very little problem with the dismal Lobos. Go with SDSU.

20. Boise State vs UNLV: Will the Rebs be able to handle the Bronco juggernaut? Let us not be silly. Go with Boise State in a glorified scrimmage.

Well I will start off by noting that I am at least back in the black this week. 11-9 is not stellar to say the least, but is better than being in the red. The college game is not real easy to predict and I have pretty much given up picking some games on emotion. The record for the year is 116-64. It is apparent I won't be getting near the 80 percent mark this season. On the the analysis for week 9......

The race for the mythical national championship has narrowed a good deal this week. Wisconsin and Clemson (probably) have played themselves out of the running. Kansas State has severely damaged their slight chance. Stanford, OSU, Oklahoma, and Oregon stay in the hunt. OSU may be the dark horse here to take it all. LSU, Boise State, and Alabama were idle. Houston keeps rolling but due to their light schedule will not be considered. They are good but, after watching them a few times this season, I find it doubtful that they could really hang long with (some of) the big boys. One thing we do know for sure; someone will be on the outside looking in when it is time to pick the teams for the "big game."

Did you watch the Red Raider meltdown yesterday? No? Neither did I. I find it hard to fathom that a team that can take the Sooners to the woodshed one week can be totally blown out by a very average Iowa State squad the next. Well, I would find it hard to believe except that the are the Red Raiders. TTU fans have gotten used to this sort of thing. They always seem to look as good as anyone in the country one week and a candidate to be upset by a IAA squad the next.

Oklahoma keeps their chances alive in the race for the national crown. A one loss Big Twelve team certainly has a chance to sneak in. The same can be said for KSU, but I would imagine that there are one or two more losses on the horizon for them.

OSU continues to play and may well have what it takes. The focus is on Alabama/LSU but one of those teams will lose next week. LSU looks near flawless and one gets the feeling that the Tide are beatable. Do not count out OSU.

The Hogs can play spoiler in the SEC still but they have escaped loss against two below average opponents in consecutive weeks. They need to step up their game.

Remember when the "Cocktail Party" was a very important game in the national picture? It is an important SEC match up this year but does not have national implications. The Bulldogs can certainly play spoiler though and have been playing some good football of late. Coach Mark may make it another year.

PSU continues their winning ways and are now undefeated in the Big Ten. They are not really in the national picture but it is time to take some notice. They certainly seem to have some trouble scoring.

Coach Willie over at WKU (his Alma mater) is doing some fine work. The Hilltoppers are actually in the race in the SBC. ASU and ULL will have something to say about that, but WKU has already beaten the Cajuns. The Cajuns did stay in the hunt with a defeat of MTSU.

Oregon and Stanford continue to play good ball. They look like they can play with anyone at this point.

WVU appears to still be the team to beat in the Big East in case anyone is really all that interested. It is reported that the Mountaineers will join the Big Twelve shortly. That may be a good fit. I heard some talking head yesterday say that some folk involved in this "realignment" nonsense should be "ashamed of themselves." I couldn't agree more.

Nevada appears to be in the driver seat in the WAC but there is still a lot of football left to be played. Don't rule out Hawaii. LTU or Fresno State? Perhaps.

It has been a pretty interesting season thus far. I do love this game.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

In a bit of a rush here today. Hopefully I can have a better won/loss record than last week. Here goes....

1. UCONN vs Pitt: Both teams are pretty horrible and both are still in the race for a Big East Championship and BCS bowl. The Huskies are probably just a bit less terrible than the Panthers and I will go with them to win.

2. UVA vs Miami: Miami may be getting it together a bit. They are a better team than the record indicates. It is conceivable that the Canes will be in the top 25 before all is said and done. They should win here. Virginia is just not a good ball club.

3. Rice vs Houston: The annual Bayou Bucket is to be played on Thursday night. Houston may have the talent to give any team in the country a problem. Rice will not be able to keep up with Keenum and CO. Go with the Cougars

4. BYU vs TCU: TCU is not near the team they were last year, but BYU, despite a decent record, is just not a real good team. Go with the Frogs.

5. Michigan St vs Nebraska: A good game on tap here. MSU may be better than most thought. Nebraska is good but probably are just shy of being really really good. Perhaps next year. That being said, I will go with Nebraska to edge the Spartans in this pretty even match up.

6. Purdue vs Michigan: Purdue pulled off an upset against the Hoosiers last week. Michigan has something to prove. The Boilermakers are not a good team and the Wolverines are pretty good. I will go with Michigan to win with relative ease.

7. Mizzou vs TAMU: The Tigers are a better team than their record and the Aggies should probably be undefeated at this point. The Aggies have some definite coaching issues and I will go with the Tigers to hand the Aggies their third loss. Go with Mizzou in a close one.

8. Arkansas vs Vanderbilt: The Hogs had a scare last week against a very weak Rebel team. If they don't play better this week the Commodores may sneak up on them. I think the Hogs will win this one but it may not be a cake walk.

9. Illinois vs Penn State: The Hoosiers have a brutal schedule for the next 4 weeks. They will certainly not run the table and may well see their season come crashing down. Hard to say. I have watched a bit of PSU this year and they certainly are beatable by a less talented squad. I will go with the Hoosiers in a very close game.

10. WVU vs Rutgers: This one may determine who will be the Big East Champ. Hard to say at this point. So many teams in the conference are still in the running. Will WVU bounce back after the loss to the Orange? We will see. I really think that Rutgers will put the nail in the Mountaineer coffin and win this one. WVU has been a disappointment this season. On a side note, it is being reported that they (WVU) may (or may not) get an invite to the Big 12 should Mizzou move on to "greener pastures."

11. Baylor vs Oklahoma State: Baylor needs to get better team play going. A team can't win on just the talent of the QB alone. Are the Cowboys as good as their ranking? We will see. I go with OSU in a close one.

12. SMU vs Tulsa: SMU took a beating last week. I was a bit surprised. The Ponies are probably a year away from being a top CUSA (Big East?) team. Tulsa (like Baylor) has an excellent QB but that is often not enough. I go with the Mustangs to edge these Hurricanes. May be very close.

13. Kansas vs Texas: The Horns need a semi scrimmage to right their ship and work out the kinks. They may get one here. If Kansas comes to play, then it may be a bit harder than one would think though. I will go with the Horns to improve their record here.

14. Stanford vs USC: Stanford wins this game then the PAC 12 is theirs to lose. USC is irrelevant no matter what they do. This may be a very close game and I will have to go with the smart kids to edge the rich kids. Go with Stanford.

15. ULL vs MTSU: Will the Cajuns get back on track or will they start to slide? We will see come Saturday. Go with ULL in a close one.

16. Wisconsin vs Ohio State: The Badgers will be out to prove that their last second loss to the Spartans was an anomaly. The Buckeyes want to prove that they are a team to be taken seriously. This should be a good game and I will have to go with the Badgers here.

17. Wyoming vs SDSU: Both are in the hunt for the number two spot in the Mountain West. I like both schools and think that at least one is a bit under rated. That would be the Aztecs. Go with SDSU to take this one.

18. San Jose St vs Louisiana Tech: Both teams have losing records overall but find themselves in the thick of the conference race. What does that say about the WAC at this point? I have watched both and I think that SJSU has a bit more talent. Go with the Spartans in a close one.

19. Georgia vs Florida: The premier game in the weak half of the SEC. Neither team is bad. Neither is real good either. I think that Florida will win this one in a minor upset. Go with the Gators.

20. Kansas State vs Oklahoma: KSU has been a surprise thus far. I thought that Snyder would have his team in the top 25 before all is finished but did not think that his Wildcats would be undefeated at this point. Any one who has watched the Sooners this year knew they were living on some borrowed time. A very good team no doubt, but great?.....Not so much. KSU was able to handle a very prolific TTU offense and the Sooners were not. KSU has a very slow moving but quite effective offense. If the Wildcats can keep Oklahoma on defense and limit their time on offense then they will win. I go with the Wildcats in a very close game.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Well things just did not go as planned last week. 7-13 for the week? Pretty dismal to say the least. My record for the year is 105-55. Don't think Vegas will be calling just quite yet. Be that as it may there were some real interesting games last week and a couple of "stunning" upsets. Well in one case at least, it really, when you think about it, was not that big of a shock.

If you have watched any of the Sooner play any this season, then you must have known that they were certainly beatable. A very good team sure, but not in the same league as a LSU or Bama. Conversely, if you have watched Texas Tech any then you knew they had the talent and quickness to beat just about any team on a good day. The fact that they have lost two games is more likely attributed to poor coaching than athletic ability. Let us be honest; Tuberville is certainly not the best around. TTU could well be undefeated at this point.

Kansas State continues to roll. Things don't get any easier for them and the next three games will show a whole lot. The Wildcats likely needed the scrimmage with the Jayhawks to perfect their game. I don't think the Wildcats will run the table but they certainly will lose no more than two games this season.

Unfortunately I had other obligations; namely the county fair, that I had to attend to and, as a result, did not get to watch as much football as I had hoped. I am not a big fan of the fair really. It can be very warm this time of year and it generally stinks. Of course a few beers makes things go a little easier. Takes an edge of the irritation as it were. It was not quite as warm this year thankfully and that was a blessing. Last year the placed stunk like a Taliban encampment and we came home smelling worse than a Persian. As luck would have it, we got back just in time to watch the "Hail Mary" last second pass that took down the Badgers. I was really surprised by this one. Michigan State is a good squad but I did not think they would be able to contend with UW. Does one loss take a "Big Ten" team out of contention for the BCS "National Championship?" Perhaps it does. We will see.

One thing we do know is that one of the best teams in the country (LSU or Bama) will have at least one loss before all is said and done. It may get quite confusing very quickly. Does an undefeated Clemson, Boise State or Stanford get the shaft when the time comes to pick the teams for the "Big Game?" What about a one loss Oregon, KSU, Wisconsin, Oklahoma or Oklahoma State? Each of these teams has lost or will lose at least one game before the season ends. Mark that! Someone will be on the outside looking in. Houston may well be undefeated also but their schedule is a little light and they won't be considered. That doesn't mean they won't have reason to gripe though. This BCS system must go!! It is ruining the game.

The Big East really appears to be pretty open at this point. Every team other than South Florida has a shot at winning the title and of course the winner will get a BCS Bowl. Not sure any of the teams will deserve a major bowl when all is said and done, but that is the system for you. Mediocrity and parity are the watchwords of this league at this point.

Boise State had a bit of a scare with the Falcons last night, but these things happen. It is likely that they will continue to roll and run the table.

Nevada seems to be in the driver seat in the WAC. At this time most teams have at least a theoretical shot. The WAC and Big East are very similar. There may (or may not) be a slight difference in talent level between the two leagues.

The SBC has opened up with the Cajun loss to the Hilltoppers. ASU may have an edge but a number of teams can not be ruled out. ULM seems to be done and North Texas, while not in contention, has improved under McCarney. It looks like the Mean Green are putting the disastrous Todd Dodge era behind them.

Temple was taken down by Bowling Green. A bit of an upset there but I still stick with my prediction that the there will be a rematch between Toledo and Temple in the MAC Championship game. Toledo appears unbeatable in the league and will likely be the champ this year.

Clemson is rolling and must be taken very seriously at this point. Georgia Tech is falling but that was fairly easy to predict. Va. Tech may be there in the end. The ACC is not real good but the Tigers and the Hokies should be taken seriously by anyone.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

My won loss record is starting off with a bang this week. 0-4 and it is not even Saturday yet. There may or may not be some redemption today. We will see.

I was pretty surprised to see UAB take down UCF Thursday night. I watched a bit of this one on the telly and Legion Field was pretty much empty. I would be surprised if there were more than 3,000 folks at the game. Pretty sad state of affairs in a football crazy state like Alabama. Of course no one would expect the Blazers to draw like the Tide or Tigers, but one would think they would at least attract a few more people than a high school game.

The bloom is off the rose at FIU. They probably have the talent to have easily won the SBC but things seem to be imploding. Right now the Cajuns are in the driver seat but don't rule out ASU or ULM.

Parity and mediocrity in the Big East? I would say so. Syracuse looked like a pretty good team in their beat down of WVU. It is easy to overlook the Orange but perhaps that is a mistake. The Big East is in trouble sure. To survive in football it will either have to merge or raid. It will be interesting to see how that all shakes out.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The ASU/FIU game is one right now and appears to be a fairly even mach up. 3-3 in the second. I am a fan of Sun Belt football. It is improving and a couple of teams are good enough to give some of the "big boys" of the game a scare.

Earlier I glanced at ESPN and of course there were one of those endless talk shows with "expert" analysts offering their opinion on this and that. Of course they were speaking about the unworthiness of a whole lot of teams in the college ranks being part of the BCS system. Ridiculous scumbaggery!!! These jock sniffers are nothing but shills for the BCS system which, in my humble opinion, is ruining the game. There would not be the made dash to change conferences if this BCS was relegated to the scrap heap of history. If ESPN did not carry the games I would certainly not be bothering to watch.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Last week was a pretty good week in college ball and this week should be just as exciting. At this point most games are must wins for teams that are on the bubble in the race for their conference crowns. Let us take a look

1. FIU vs Arkansas State: Both teams are still in the hunt for the New Orleans Bowl. FIU had a bad stretch with a loss to the Cajuns and Blue Devils but may be righting the ship. ASU could be right there. They are a bit of a dark horse it seems. I will go with FIU to win this one in a close one. I think they may have the edge in talent here.

2. UCF vs UAB: If UCF hopes to stay in the running in CUSA then they need to run the table the rest of the way. What better place to start than UAB? Of course UAB can be a bit surprising and may have a few tricks up their sleeve. They did hang well with an SEC team the other week and they do have a good coach in Calloway. I doubt they have the talent to stay with the Knights though. GO with UCF.

3. Rutgers vs Louisville: Is Rutgers for real? We will see. I do know that these Knights are well coached and am just not so sure about Louisville. The Cardinals did lose to a SBC team earlier this year and have not been real good at all this year. I go with Rutgers.

4. WVU vs Syracuse: They say that the Dome is a hard place to play. I don't really see that. Go with WVU to take this one. The Orange does have a decent record but their wins have been close. So have their losses though. They may be better than I give them credit for, but they will not beat the Mountaineers.

5. Maryland vs FSU: FSU may be a bit better than their record shows. Maryland is hard to figure. They can look pretty good one week and horrible the next. This may be a toss up but I will go with the Noles to win here.

6. Kansas St vs Kansas: KSU is a good ball team. Probably not a top ten squad but good none the less. KU is not a good team at all. They did show up last week for at least one half of play against the Sooners but that is really neither here nor there. KSU will win here. It may be closer than some think. Rivalry games often are.

7. NC vs Clemson: NC is a fair ball club and Clemson may be the real deal. Not quite Bama/LSU good but probably more along the lines of South Carolina/Illinois good. Time will tell. I look for Clemson to get back on track after their near loss to Maryland, and beat the tar out of the Tar Heels. Go with Clemson.

8. Georgia Tech vs Miami(FL): Tech suffered their first loss last week. You didn't expect them to run the table did you? Miami may be able to take the Jackets down. It depends on which Hurricanes show up though. I will toss a coin and go with the good Hurricanes this week and pick Miami to win.

9. Illinois vs Purdue: Illinois needs to win here to rebuild some confidence. Purdue is not a pushover though. Not a good team but capable of some surprises here and there. I think that the Illini will win a very close game here.

10. Cincinnatti vs South Florida: Cincy is playing decent football it seems. I have paid no attention to either of these teams really. Both seem decent but are in reality probably just not that good. I will go with South Florida. Just a guess.

11. Lousiana Tech vs Utah State: Both of these teams have to win this game if they are to have a shot in the WAC. I think that these Aggies are the better team and will go with them to win here. May be close.

12. Boise State vs Air Force: Air Force may hang tough for a while but the Broncos will roll here. I look for Boise to win by three touchdowns.

13. Auburn vs LSU: The Tigers come to Tigerland to meet the real Cats. Auburn may hang around for the first half but will be blown out the second. Go with LSU. Is the two QB system actually working in Baton Rouge? It seems to be. I am a bit surprised by that frankly.

14. Fresno State vs Nevada: Perhaps this will decide who will be in the driver seat in WAC play. Both teams are certainly capable of beating the other and the game will be a toss up. I will go with Fresno State in a close one.

15. Tulsa vs Rice: Tulsa needs this to stay in the CUSA race. They have the talent to beat Rice but I do not think they will. I look for the Owls to play up and edge the Golden Hurricane. Kinne is a good QB but the Owl defense may get after him on Saturday.

16. ULM vs North Texas: The Warhawks have a losing record but their beat down of Troy last week proves that they may have enough talent to perhaps make a run in the SBC. North Texas is improving but still is just not a good team. I will go with the team from Louisiana.

17. Texas Tech vs Oklahoma: Upset alert? I'm just not quite ready to go there yet, but Oklahoma has proven that they will let a lessor team give them a scare. TTUMizzou and the Red Raiders will make a very good showing. They will come out on the short end after a valiant effort. Go with the Sooners.

18. Jacksonville State vs Kentucky: These kind of games can be pretty interesting. A good IAA squad vs a below average D1 team. I have watched Kentucky a couple times this year and they certainly are beatable by a good IAA squad. Will it happen Saturday? It very well might. I will go with conventional wisdom here though and pick the Wildcats to survive a scare against this lower division opponent.

19. Michigan State vs Wisconsin: This is probably the "big game" of the week. Both are good football teams to be sure. Michigan State has played some good teams while Wisconsin has benefited from a very easy schedule up to this point. That is in the Spartans favor. Maybe. The Badgers can silence the doubters by taking down the Spartans. I think they will do just that and go with UW for the win.

20. Memphis vs Tulane: This game may well prove which team is the worst squad in D1 football. Well there is New Mexico. I don't think either of these teams are quite that bad. Be that as it may, it will be interesting to see which of these squads is the most inept. I have seen Memphis live and in person and am just not sure that a top D2 team would have a lot of problems with them. Tulane looks pretty horrible also but I think they just may be just a little less terrible than the Tigers. I like both teams having an affinity for both fair cities. I consider both of them "home." I guess I will have to go with the Green Wave to pull this one out of the hat.

This week my won/loss record was 14-6 for a total of 98-42 on the season. I prefer to be correct at least 16 games out of 20, but that can be pretty hard to do at times. I still find it hard to predict a win for those teams that I just don't like. Maybe if I just left those games alone............

Over in the ACC Georgia Tech was exposed as a pretender. A loss to Virginia is a problem. Clemson had their hands full against Maryland but prevailed. Clemson may be the real deal this year but there has to be some doubt creeping in. Maryland is just not a good team. Miami may be righting their ship. They have the talent to be a top 15 team. Why they are not is any one's guess. A lot has to do with the erratic play of Harris. He can be brilliant one game and incompetent the next. Virginia Tech has to be taken seriously at a this point.

Stanford rolled again. That is expected every week. They may be a dark horse for the the BCS "National Title" game. Wisconsin and or LSU/Alabama must falter first though. Remember a 1 loss SEC team can still play for the championship. A one loss PAC 12 team? Probably not. Oregon showed that they still must be taken seriously. Of course a victory over either Arizona team is not a real big deal at this point. USC is irrelevant. No one else is worth mentioning at this point.

The MAC will be down to Temple and Toledo. I have discussed this before.

The Cajuns roll again. They should look out for ASU and perhaps ULM. FIU can not be ruled out in the race for the New Orleans Bowl.

Kansas kept the game somewhat respectable against the vaunted Sooners. The Jayhawks actually looked like they may have had a slight chance for a huge upset for a while there. Texas will likely lose a couple more before all is said and done. Baylor is still a pretty decent team but someone other than RG III must play ball. The Aggies look to be righting the ship. It may be too late. KSU somehow keeps winning. It can be argued that Baylor, TTU, and perhaps even Miami are better teams. Still the Wildcats are undefeated at this point. Something to be said for that. They won't run the table but they are a good team. That crazy little dude is perhaps the only coach that can win in the Little Apple. They should never let him "retire" again.

Fresno State may (or may not) be in the driver seat in the WAC. They had a good win over a somewhat under rated Aggie squad but they certainly look beatable. Nevada may be there and I suppose one can not rule out Hawaii. SJSU? They may still be in the mix. Everybody but Idaho is theoretically in the running out west.

There were three games in the Big Ten that mattered yesterday. Michigan State exposed the Wolverines. I knew that would be a close game. Illinois has been living a dream but one just kind of knew that at some point they would be taken out. A two or three loss Illini team is certainly not to be considered a failure. Zook does about as good a job as can be expected. Ohio State is a better team than their record and will be back next year. Wisconsin rolled. No one expected otherwise. The Badgers will be in the national mix before all is said and done.

There was not much of any interest in the Big East. WVU was idle. They are the only team that matters at this point. Well, Rutgers is quietly doing a pretty good job. They are easy to overlook. Perhaps that is the way Schiano likes it. Walk softly and carry a big stick as it were. You know Cincy is 5-1 also. They are right. The Big East is easy to totally discount.

LSU and Bama are the real deal. They do meet each other down the road so one of them will suffer a loss. That won't necessarily preclude the loser from being in the BCS Title Game. South Carolina limps along and continues their winning ways but the SEC East is not near as strong as the West. Florida is a huge disappointment this year. Could they be left without a post season trip? Probably not. There are too many bowl games. Auburn is playing pretty good ball but are a different team without Newton and Co. Georgia is really just not that good. They will certainly go bowling though and and perhaps even make it to the SEC Championship game. The East is a bit weak. The Hogs were idle.

It really made no difference for Boise State to move. WAC or Mountain West? What's the difference? With TCU being in rebuild mode and Utah gone, the competition level is about the same. SDSU, TCU, and perhaps Air Force are decent teams this year but not in the same league with the Broncos. Boise may get a BCS bid but will again be left out of the "Big Game."

SMU had a nice victory over UCF. Tulsa struggled a bit but still came out on top. Houston was idle. The Mustangs could be the best team in conference. Houston will have something to say about that though. Can't rule out USM at this point. UCF could still be in the mix if they right the ship. Time will tell. Marshall and ECU are 2-1 in conference play but likely won't be there when all is said and done.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Well another Saturday is upon us and I am looking forward to watching a bit of football. Not sure how much I will actually get to watch today but will certainly try to squeeze some in. I will at least try to watch KSU/TTU this evening. I am curious to see if the Wildcat D can keep the Raider offense out of the end zone. Probably not and that is why Snyder must keep his offense on the field and play "clock control." It should be a good game.

It is apparent now why Hawaii has lost to teams that they have to talent to obliterate. UNLV, Washington, and now San Jose State? The Warriors should be 6-0 at this point and instead are looking at 3-3. The were absolutely terrible the first half and could not hold onto the ball. It is also apparent now why SJSU stays close in games but comes out on the wrong end of the scoreboard. They played good first half football and just did their best to give the game to the Warriors in the second half. The WAC is still wide open and every team has at least a theoretical shot at the conference crown. The league is mediocre to say the least.

During commercial breaks of the above game I started flipping channels a bit. I was hoping that maybe Motorhead or someone good would be on VH1 Classic. They weren't. I came across MTV (something I never watch), and there, lo and behold, was the LFL. I have heard of this before and seen clips here and there, but I have never really seen a game. I had a pre conceived notion of it being sort of like Roller Derby or something. I was wrong. They actually play good, hard hitting football, and they do it in their underwear. Some of the ladies were pretty attractive but quite a few of them looked a bit like horses. I like that vato! I like that! For the most part, "wardrobe malfunctions" were blacked out. That was kind of a bummer. After all we are talking about MTV here. You would think that a bit of butt crack would not be a big deal. Probably some sort of contractual thing with the league.

It is now being reported that SMU, Houston, and UCF will be joining the Big East in all sports and that Boise State and Air Force will be coming in for football. Wonder if this is true? We will see. It is also being reported that the Mountain West and CUSA will be merging. This is getting quite confusing and a little ridiculous. I suppose that as long as things are moving wherever they are moving, that the SBC and WAC should merge. It makes sense to some extent. Not any more stupid than some of the other things that are in the works. Where does this leave the Big XII? With ten (and perhaps nine) teams. It depends on whether Mizzou and the SEC hook up. It will be interesting to see where this all plays out. I think the BCS system is, for the most part, responsible for the flux that we see in the Division I game.I have said before that the BCS is a cancer that is ruining the game. I stand by that.

Friday, October 14, 2011

It is now being reported that the Big East is wooing Boise State to join the league. Big East football appears to be finished frankly. The remaining members should apply for membership to Conference USA or the ACC. A merger with either/or will create a "super conference'" with an automatic BCS bid. Hopefully this will sort itself out before next season begins and let us all hope that the BCS system becomes a thing of the past as soon as possibl. It is ruining college football.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The NBA "lockout" continues. I don't know the issues and grievances the players and owners have with each other and could not care less. The NBA is unwatchable in my humble opinion. It is reported that last year was one of the best years in the history of the league. Really? Maybe so. I guess I am old school. I lost interest in the NBA when the the old hands finally retired. I am speaking of the era of Jordan, Hakeem, Larry, the "Pasty Gangster," Malone, etc. I know I am not alone . The game has not been the same since.

My main concern is for the people who supplement their income and/or actually depend on their salaries from the games. The people who work at the arenas need their money more than these pampered ganstas need theirs. I can guarantee that. Those people are left out in the cold. I would love to see them initiate a class action suit against the owners and player association.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

This humble forum is dedicated to the grand sport of college football, but that does not mean that, at times, other things can be discussed. There has been a baseball issue that has been of local interest.

The Astros are up for sale. Apparently the sale has not gone through at this time but, according to the "news" reports, the transaction is all but a done deal. Here is where the problem comes in to play.

The Houston organization is being discussed as perhaps moving to the American League. Now, I try to go to a game or two during the season but am no die hard fan of any team in the Houston area. I am, after all, a Southeastern Conference man. If the Astros do indeed move to the American League then I will be through with them. Why? The American League is not really baseball. If a "designated hitter" is used then the game is not really being played the proper way. Use of the DH takes away a lot of the strategy that goes into a game.

Nope. American League "baseball" is not the real deal. You can put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Well it looks like TCU will be joining the Big XII. That replaces the Aggies. It is also reported that Mizzou is thinking about trying to get into the SEC. Supposedly the Big X is not interested in the Tiger program at this point. Getting confused? You ain't seen nuthin yet. The Big XII is reported to be only interested in a ten team conference at this time. If Mizzou does get an invite somewhere else then that would again the the Big XII with nine teams. Perhaps they should take a look a New Mexico or NMSU if the Tigers do indeed leave for "greener" pastures. Either of those schools are a suitable replacement for the moribund Buffalo program.

UCF interested in the Big East? That is stupid. The football playing part of that conference is rapidly falling apart. Perhaps CUSA should propose a merger with the remaining members of the Big East and become a "super" conference. Some schools in both conferences are capable of being BCS contenders on a fairly regular basis. Or perhaps it just makes more sense for the ACC and Big East to merge. Who knows at this point? Where would that leave basketball? I don't know. It can be argued that in reality both the ACC and Big East, (and perhaps CUSA) place basketball a priority.

With all of this quest for greener pastures in progress, it seems to make sense that the Mountain West and WAC merge. Like CUSA/Big East, there are a few schools that can compete with the "big boys" on a regular basis. Well, one at least. Boise State.

BYU and Notre Dame need to affiliate somewhere. Notre Dame can perhaps continue to go its' own way. BYU? No one cares about them. They need to swallow their pride and affiliate.

The Aggies are indeed members of the SEC. The problem here is that they will, most years, be doormats in that league. Most SEC fans do not want them. Except of course to see their school pad their win record. They are not a good fit. They are not Southern. They are Texan. It is not the same thing. With the exception of the extreme eastern part of Texas and of course the small "coon ass" area of the Golden Triangle; Texas is just not really the old south. Texas Agriculture is an interloper.

Where will all this "realignment" finally end up? Your guess is as good as mine.

Monday, October 10, 2011

There was some good football last week. For the first time since I started following the game seriously no team from Florida is ranked in the top 25. What is happening down there? Just a bad year I suppose. I think we will see FSU, Miami, or the Gators back in before the dust settles. USF? Perhaps. FIU? Won't happen. That being said, on to the predictions for week 7.

1. SDSU vs Air Force: This one looks to be a very even game. Both lost to a decent TCU squad and both have beaten who they should have and lost to those that were predicted to beat them. The possible exception would be the Falcon victory over the Naval Academy. I think most would have picked Navy to win that one. That being said, I will go ahead and pick SDSU. The reason? I like their uniforms. This one is a complete toss up.

2. Hawaii vs SJSU: Hawaii should be 4-1 (and perhaps 5-0) at this point. There is no explaining the loss to UNLV. No excuse for that one. Washington? The Warriors had their chances there. Hawaii may (or may not) be the best team in the WAC. Fresno State and/or Utah State may have something to say about that. SJSU has actually stayed competitive in most of their games. A few turns of luck and their record would be somewhat different. That being said, it is doubtful that the Spartans have the talent to keep up with Hawaii in this one. Go with the Warriors.

3. Michigan vs Michigan State: The old saying is that in a rivalry game the records can be thrown out the window. There is often (but not always) some truth to that. This game qualifies. Both are good teams but Michigan likely has more talent. I will go out on a limb though and pick these Spartans to pull off a minor upset.

4. Toledo vs Bowling Green: The Rockets are a good MAC team and the Falcons are about average. I will go with Toledo here.

5. Wisconsin vs Indiana: A victory over Indiana does not really help the Badgers get the respect they deserve. The game has to be played though. Go with the Badgers with ease.

6. Baylor vs Texas Agriculture: The Aggies have more talent overall. Both schools QB's are good and Griffin III may be one of the best in the country. The Aggies should prevail and I will pick them to win. It may be close and being wrong here would not hurt my feelings.

7. Miami (Fl) vs North Carolina: Can they right the ship in Miami before it is too late? Perhaps. This week will show if the Hurricanes are salvageable or can just write off the entire season. I go with Miami to pull this one out of the hat.

8. Buffalo vs Temple: Temple wins here. Should not be much of a game. The Bulls did have a nice victory last week over the Bobcats and may have gained some confidence but it will not be enough to upend the Owls. Go with Temple.

9. LSU vs Tennessee: The Tigers should watch out. This one may be harder than it looks on paper. Knoxville can be a hard place to play and the Tigers are hated there. I think the talent will prevail though and I pick a LSU victory. May be close.

10. Ball State vs Ohio: The best of the rest in the MAC square off. It should be about even and I pick Solich's squad to prevail. Go with the Bobcats.

11. Ohio State vs Illinois: This is a real test for Ron Zook's squad. Ohio State is likely better than their record. Illinois? The jury is still out somewhat. They have had close wins over three decent teams but for the most part their schedule has been a little light. The game is at home for the Illini and that helps. I will go against my gut feeling here and pick Illinois to edge the Buckeyes.

12. Oklahoma State vs Texas: A good game? We will see. Texas has some problems behind center that may be insurmountable this year. Oklahoma State may (or may not) be one of the best teams in the country. I think that an upset is brewing here though and pick the Longhorns to (somehow) prevail.

13. Virginia Tech vs Wake Forest: I have not paid attention to the Deacons this year at all. Perhaps I should. They have a pretty good record. Virginia Tech was exposed the other week and pulled one out of the hat against a decent, but not real good, Miami squad Saturday. Probably the Hokies have what it takes to win here and I will pick them to do so. If Wake Forest prevails, then we should begin to take notice.

14. Idaho vs NMSU: Neither team is likely to make any noise in the WAC. Both would have to run the table and hope for others to implode. I think that the Vandals are probably a little better and I will pick them to win.

15. Utah State vs Fresno State: This is a pivotal game in the WAC race. The winner here may end up being crowned champion. Utah State is a better team than their record and the jury is certainly out on the Bulldogs. I will go with the Aggies in a close one.

17. KSU vs Texas Tech: OK this one will show us whether the Wildcats are to be really taken seriously. For KSU to win they must control the ball and keep it out of the hands of the Tech offense. Tech will score points, but if KSU can just control the clock then they should be able to wear out the Red Raider defense. Tech has, as usual, an explosive offense and a porous defense. That is par for the course though. Go with KSU.

18. North Texas vs ULL: The Cajuns appear now to be the team to beat in the Sun Belt. Does anyone care? Probably not. I think it is a pretty interesting league myself. North Texas is improving under McCarney and they may be a factor next year. It may be a close game but I pick the Cajuns to prevail.

19. Oklahoma vs Kansas: Another no brainer. TG probably wishes he had stayed in Buffalo. He was building a program there. This will be a blowout if Stoops allows the dogs off the leash. Go with the Sooners.

20. Sam Houston State vs Nicholls: There just are not a whole lot of "stellar" match ups in D1 this week so I decided to try my hand at a IAA game. This Southland Conference match up could be interesting. I almost went to see SHSU play SFA at Reliant last weekend but opted to go see the Rice/Memphis match up instead. Sam Houston State is a good team apparently but probably not quite on par with the better East Coast IAA squads. That is typically the case with Southland football. I think that the SHSU will prevail in this game and improve to 6-0. The IAA playoffs are a foregone conclusion for the boys from Huntsville.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

There were some very good games last week and some of the conference races are starting to shape up. I actually got to see a game live and in person over at ancient (but still nice) Rice Stadium. Well, I guess to be honest the stadium is sort of a dump when one compares it to the large school venues' but it does have a lot of history and charm. Allow me to tell you that the NFL or MLB does not have anything over college where the price of burgers and dogs are concerned.

This week I am 16-4 with a season total of 84-38. Now that is where one needs to be if one has aspirations of doing analysis on a "professional" basis.

It looks like that only Clemson and Va. Tech play ball over in the ACC. (It is sort of easy to forget Ga. Tech and North Carolina but they are moving along rather quietly). The Hokies did escape the 'Canes and Clemson won again. The Tiger QB may be out for a while though. Hard to say at this point. Initial reports are conflicting on his condition. I knew that FSU was not up to their pre season ranking. Perhaps in time, but certainly not this year. 2-3 at this point? The Seminole faithful are rather patient as far as such things go, but they better start winning or the new staff will begin to feel the heat. Miami should be a very good team but they seem to be snake bit. The "troubles" may be proving a distraction and taking a toll. No one else is worth mentioning..

WVU is the only team in the Big East really playing ball. That Graham did lose to Schiano's club and that does a heart good. Schiano is a classy guy and pretty good coach. Todd Graham? Not so much.
The Big East is in flux to say the least. There is no telling how things will shake out. No, not the conference race. That is WVU's to lose. I am talking of the survival of the league, or at least the football playing portion.

The Aggies of Texas Agriculture finally held off a decent opponent in the second half. It looked for a while there that they would "do it again." They Aggies should be very good but something is sure missing.
KSU is quietly proving to be a pretty good team. There are always some doubts about the Wildcats but it is hard to argue with no defeats at this time of year. Oklahoma State is also a bit under the radar but are a very good team. The Sooners exposed the Longhorns. I expected a better game. Mack Brown needs to get some better play behind center. Baylor beat a better than usual Iowa State squad and can't be ruled out in the Big XII race.

Oregon and Stanford are the only teams in the PAC XII that matter this year. It is hard to take either Arizona team very seriously. Sorry. We will see how the Ducks respond if James is out for a while. They still should be able to do well in the moribund conference. Stanford is the real deal and could be a dark horse in the national race. No one else is worth mentioning at this point.

The MWC is the Broncos' to lose. They won't though. No one else in that league has the talent to keep up with the quick strike offense that the Broncs sport. Their defense is not too shabby either. TCU and SDSU are the best of the rest. I thought that the Aztecs would be able to put another dent in the finish of the Frogs but they fell short. Air Force did not show up against the Irish. Could it be that Notre Dame is righting the ship? Let us hope not.

The MAC Championship game will be a rematch of Toledo and Temple. I will eat your hat if it is not so. Ohio and Ball State were exposed. WMU still may have a shot. They are playing pretty good ball.

The Cajuns have beaten two of the best teams in the Sun Belt. Wait? Does that mean that ULL may have the best squad in this conference? That thought seems a bit strange, but it just may be so. Still a lot of football to be played though.

I have been paying some attention to the Aggies of Utah State. They have lost some heartbreakers and are a better team than their record. They proved that somewhat with a rout of Wyoming yesterday. They may be a factor in the WAC race. That league is wide open at this point. Most teams in the conference have a legitimate shot. I will say it is probably between Fresno State, Hawaii, and the Aggies though. Speaking of Fresno State; I would have thought that Pat Hill's squad would have at least kept it relatively close against the Broncos. They did not.

It was kind of hard to watch five games at the same time last evening. UH/ECU; TTU/Texas Agriculture; Arkansas/Auburn, and Nebraska/Ohio State. It was done though with a lot of channel flipping.

Arkansas looks to be a very good team. Just under LSU and Alabama. Should either (or both) of those teams falter then the Hogs could be right there. Georgia has the benefit of a rather "easy" schedule the rest of the way and may well be a factor in the SEC East. They are not in the same universe as LSU, Bama, or likely the Hogs. South Carolina may have had a chance to work out their kinks in the scrimmage with Kentucky. Florida is done. They will reach a bowl game sure, but this will be considered a "bad" year by the Gator faithful.

I thought for a moment that the Buckeyes were wearing Texas Agriculture gear the way they let the Cornhuskers come roaring back on them. Ohio State certainly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Michigan survived a scare and was pretty lucky they were not upset by the Wildcats. Illinois continues to quietly build a good season and Wisconsin was idle. The Badgers just may be the best team in the land. There is certainly a case to be made.

The Houston Cougars finally won in convincing fashion. They may get into the top 25 this week. Their schedule is too light for them to be a BCS buster I think but they certainly have a chance to run the table in conference play. USM, Tulsa, SMU, and UCF are the best of the rest and any of them have a legitimate shot of winning this mediocre but rather interesting conference.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

The Aggies of Texas Agriculture tried pretty hard to make it three in a row. Texas Tech could have and should have come back and won the game but alas they did not. The Aggies should be a very good ball club but as one of the Arkansas players said after their victory last week, "it is just the Aggies." They have some issues somewhere. I would put my money on the coaching staff. At any rate, they did come away with a victory. With the talent they have in College Station this season they should be a top 10 squad.

Yes there is a problem somewhere.

On a side note - it would have been to the Red Raiders benefit to start the season with a bit of a tougher schedule. I am also just not sure that Tuberville is the right man for the Tech job.

Today we went to see the Rice Owls thump the Memphis Tigers. That was to be expected and, liking both teams, I sort of was neutral on the subject of who wins. I did find myself pulling for the Tigers as the game progressed. Memphis and New Orleans, (along with San Francisco), are my favorite cities in our great land. Of course going to a Rice game is certainly not to be confused with going to a "major" college football game. The crowd was sparse to say the least and even became a bit thinner after the people who came to see there kids in the halftime ceremonies leave the stadium. We still had fun and of course spent more money than I am comfortable with.

One thing we did do however was sit next to the Marching Owl Band (MOB). For those of you not familiar with this group it is just a bit hard to explain. They have no real band uniforms per se. Some wear regular old street clothes and others wear a black bartender vest with "old man" hats. You know, the kind that were popular in the 30's and seem to be coming back in style a bit. A strange bunch. My child said they looked like nerds and indeed they are. I tried to explain to her that they may have been the weird kids in high school but they are going to Rice University so they definitely have the last laugh. I also explained that nerds ruled the world and made the bucks. I hope she gets it. It would be wonderful to see her go to Rice or someplace similar (Tulane would do). Be that as it may, one kid in the band had an old t-shirt on that said "Who Knew Todd Graham Was A Douchebag?" That is one of the best shirts I have seen in a long time. Who knew? I kind of did. When that Graham left for Tulsa and ditched Rice it was dirty pool. Of course he ditched Tulsa and headed to Pitt. Graham is nothing but a job jumper and a mercenary. As of this writing his Panthers are being thumped by Schiano's Knights. The Scarlett Knights are not anywhere close to being a football power. I would imagine that the Panther faithful will soon be getting weary of this Graham's traveling circus.

It was a good day of watching football. Really it was more a band concert for us with a below par football game in progress, but it was fun none the less.

I will be enjoying the Hogs/Tigers shortly and will likely check in on the Red Raiders and those silly Aggies.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

This week there are some exciting games although perhaps not as many high profile match ups as last week. Teams are now, for the most part, in their conference schedules and things will really start to shake out in conference races. On to the predictions.

1. WKU vs MTSU: Tonight will perhaps decide which team is the worst in the SBC. The Blue Raiders were supposed to be down somewhat this year and WKU is still trying to sort themselves out in Division I ball. This will probably be a pretty close game and I will go with WKU to get their first win.

2. Oregon vs California: It is rather tempting and easy to write off the PAC 12 as just not quite up to par. That is possibly not a wise choice though. Oregon has been under the radar a bit since week one and California has not really been considered big time this year. Tedford does a nice job for the Bears but it may not quite be enough. Go with Oregon in this game.

3. Boise State vs Fresno State: Pat Hill will have his guys ready to play but it won't be enough. This is a rivalry game and Fresno may be able to keep it close, but look for the Broncos to come away with the win. BSU is a legitimate top 10 team.

4. Mississippi State vs UAB: The Bulldogs have been a disappointment this year. They just are not that good. They should have the talent to get things right here and take the Dragons down though. Calloway is a good coach but there are just too many good D1 teams in Alabama for him to get the blue chip in state recruits to come to Birmingham. Go with MSU.

5. Memphis vs Rice: This years' Owl team is a about par for the course for a Rice squad. Memphis is perhaps the worst team in Division I. I look for the Owls to win this with relative ease. I think that Larry Porter will, in time, be a good coach but he needs a bit more experience. Getting decent players to come to Memphis would helpful. Go with the Owls.

6. FIU vs Akron: I look for FIU to right the ship here in this non conference game. The losses to ULL and Duke were disheartening for the Panther faithful, but FIU may still be a contender for the New Orleans Bowl. Go with FIU here.

7. Missouri vs Kansas State: The Wildcats are a pleasant surprise thus far. They may meet their match this week with the Tigers though. Hard to say. I think this game is a complete toss up but I will go out on a limb and predict KSU to remain undefeated.

8. TCU vs SDSU: TCU is down this year and the Aztecs may have opportunity to come away with a victory. I think both of these teams will go bowling but I think SDSU will come away with a minor upset. Go with the Aztecs in a close one.

9. Oklahoma vs Texas: This "big game" this week is this rivalry game. Texas may have some QB issues and there is a bit of doubt creeping in about just how good this Sooner squad is. I will go with the Sooners here to pull one out of the hat.

10. Texas Agriculture vs Texas Tech: The Aggies should be a good football team. They do have some definite issues though. Perhaps it is coaching or maybe it is conditioning. Hard to say. Sherman is not a real good HC and another loss will have the Aggie faithful again talking about "reaching the next level." Texas Tech, while undefeated, has had a very easy sked thus far and frankly have not been all that impressive with their wins. I am not sure that Tuberville is the right man for the Red Raider job. That being said, this could be a very even game. I think that the Aggies are snake bit and will lose another here. Go with the Red Raiders in a close one.

11. East Carolina vs Houston: Houston, like TTU, is undefeated but has benefited from a rather easy schedule. Also, like TTU, they have not been all that impressive with their wins. ECU seems to be in rebuild mode. Both schools are well coached and Houston's offense is top notch. Their defense may again get them in trouble. We will see. I will go with the Cougars here.

12. Auburn vs Arkansas: A good SEC game that will decide a lot. Both are good but not great teams. The Hogs had a nice come back win last week and Auburn showed up against a decent South Carolina squad. I will say this one is pretty even and I will pick the Hogs here.

13. Florida vs LSU: The Gator starting QB is hurt. LSU may (or may not) have a QB controversy brewing. We will see. The Tigers should be able to win this one but Miles needs to fend off those who say that Jefferson is the man. He should dance with who brung ya (as they say), and stick with Lee. If Lee falters, then by all means, put Jordan in. Till then Jefferson need to sit on the bench and thank his lucky stars he is in a Tiger uniform instead of jail duds. Go with the Tigers to win. It may be fairly close.

14. Troy vs ULL: If the Cajuns are serious about a run in the SBC then they need to win here. Troy is a good team always and have a winning tradition. This is something that is missing in Cajun country. I will go wth the Trojans to hand the Cajuns their second loss of the season.

15. Temple vs Ball State: Ball State has a decent MAC club and Temple has a good team period. Last week was a bad outing for both squads although Ball State at least has an excuse. I think the Owls will be in the MAC Championship Game (probably facing Toledo), and will win this one. Go with Temple.

16. EMU vs Toledo: Toledo has shown us something this year. Decent outings against Ohio State and Boise State and a thumping of a good Temple squad has to be worth something. I would go with the Rockets to be victorious here also.

17. Baylor vs Iowa State: If the Bears are to be taken seriously then this game is a must win. Last week they were beaten by a decent KSU squad but in reality should have had little trouble with the Wildcats. Iowa State has had a good season up until last weeks' thumping they took from the Longhorns. If Iowa State plays their cards right they may reach a bowl this year. That being said, look for the Bears to win here. It may be close though.

18. Miami vs Va Tech: What kind of team do these schools have? They are both still a bit of a mystery. Va Tech benefited from a rather easy schedule before being exposed last week. Miami's loss to Maryland was strange and they came within a hair of beating a decent KSU squad a couple weeks back. The Canes had a scrimmage against IAA Bethune Cookman last week to right their ship while the Hokies were embarrassed. I will go with Miami in a minor upset here.

19. Illinois vs Indiana: Ron Zook has a pretty good team. He is really a much better coach than he is given credit for. Granted Illinois has had a pretty easy schedule thus far and that certainly helps matters. Indiana is not a good team but did have at least a decent showing against Paterno's club the other day. Perhaps they are improving somewhat. Probably won't be enough though. I go with the Illini here to improve o 6-0.

20. Boston College vs Clemson: Clemson is the real deal finally. They may be up there with the top SEC teams along with Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Certainly no worse than say an Oregon or South Carolina. They should easily top BC. Go with the Tigers of Clemson.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Jordan Jefferson has publicly stated that he wants to be the starting QB at LSU. He was recently reinstated to the team after the troubles that he found himself in. Fine and good, but the team has moved on. At least it should have. If Les Miles allows a QB controversy to brew in Baton Rouge then he will find himself with a couple of losses on the year. That is not something that the faithful in Tiger Town are liable to forgive. Right now Jefferson should be a back up and a quiet one at that. He should consider himself lucky just to be on the team (and not in jail). If Lee falters and it becomes necessary to put Jefferson in that is fine. That is what a back up is for. Till then Jordan, sir, you need to STFU.

It has been said that if a team has more than one starting QB then they have none. There may indeed be some truth to that. Right now the Longhorns can't seem to decide on a starter, (although McCoy is apparently about there). and we may see the fruit of that this weekend in the Oklahoma game. Moammar apparently has not decided who should lead the Gamecocks and we have already seen where that can lead. Will Miles make the same mistake?

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Their were quite a few interesting and important games last week. Things are starting to shake out a bit in the race for the "national title" although most teams are just getting their in conference schedules really underway. This week I was 15-5 on predictions for a total of 68-32 for the season. Not so bad but certainly no where near the goal of 80 per cent.

It seems that the Crimson Tide is the real deal for sure. Florida is going to have a tougher row to hoe before all is said and done without their starting QB.

South Carolina was exposed this week by a pretty good Auburn squad. Both teams are good but in no way will be a challenge to LSU or Alabama for the conference crown.

Over in the WAC it appears there is a good bit of parity. Fresno State is still probably the best of the bunch but the conference overall is just not good. Utah State, Hawaii and perhaps LTU or Nevada all have a shot at winning the WAC title. I was a bit surprised at the decent showing that Idaho had against a BCS opponent but was surprised that the Bulldogs of Fresno did not wallop Ole Miss.

I was pretty surprised at the beat down that Toledo gave Temple. I think this will be a preview of the MAC Championship game. I knew that Toledo was much better than their record and think that Temple had a bad outing. Ohio, Western Michigan and perhaps Ball State may figure in the race before all is said and done.

We now are starting to learn a little bit about the Longhorns. They look to be a pretty good team. Much harder tests lie before them though. Oklahoma was not tested and may factor in the race for the BCS "Championship." Time will tell.
The Aggies are doing what the Aggies do. That was to be expected though.
Perhaps the real surprise thus far may be KSU. They are uninteresting but seem to find a way to win. The win over Baylor was a good one for the program and they may be a factor in the conference race.

Is Clemson the real deal? It is hard to imagine but it appears that this may indeed be the case. Are they on the level of the top SEC teams? Wisconsin? Oklahoma? They may well be. They will need to run the table to stay in consideration for a chance at the national title. A one loss ACC team will not be considered while a one loss SEC team will. Just the way it goes.

CUSA is wide open at this point. Houston may be the best team but frankly they have not been that impressive. Still undefeated though. SMU took down a pretty good TCU team and they will likely be a factor in the race. Who else? Hard to discount UCF or Southern Mississippi. Tulsa may still have what it takes. Their QB is top notch but the coaching staff is certainly suspect.

Are the Cajuns 4-1? Hard to believe isn't it.? Of course the Sun Belt has a lot more in common with IAA ball than the SEC, but still, most "experts" picked ULL to win no more than one or two this season. Some of the bloom is off FIU, but they are still perhaps the most talented team in conference. Troy certainly can not be ruled out. They are always in the running to reach the New Orleans Bowl.

Does anybody other than Stanford play football in the PAC 12? USC does not matter. Oregon may be irrelevant also but for entirely different reasons.

Wisconsin may be the best team in the country. They are not getting the buzz that Alabama or LSU are getting but they could certainly compete on the field with the best of them. So far I would say that Bama, LSU, Oklahoma and Wisconsin are the best teams playing ball. Boise State, Clemson and perhaps one or two others (Oklahoma State? Stanford?) are nipping at their heels. There may be a few others to think start thinking about (Texas? KSU? Michigan?). We will see.

Before all is said and done some one will be on the outside looking in. That is one reason (among many) to scrap this silly BCS system.

Wow! Almost forgot. Notre Dame has a winning record now. I guess they will be clamoring for more television exposure.

So far it has been an interesting season with a lot of good football left to be played.

Well it has happened again. TAMU has let a good team come roaring back on them in the second half and handed them their second loss of the season. 2-2? Is this the "taking it to the next level" that the Aggies fans used to bray about when R.C. Slocum was coach? I would think not. Slocum was a good coach and classy guy and they have gone downhill from there. Franchione is a program killer and this Sherman is just not real competent either. I actually feel a bit bad for Tannehill. He is a pretty good QB and deserves better.

Now the Aggies are going to make the move to the SEC. Welcome. Can you say doormat? Think about it. This particular Aggie squad is perhaps the best that they have had in years and, in the SEC, they would be no better than middle of the pack. Along the same lines as Ole Miss and Mississippi State probably. Perhaps a bit better than Kentucky or Vanderbilt but in no way ready to compete with the Gators, Tide, both Tigers or even probably the Vols, Gamecocks, Hogs or even Bulldogs.

Let us forget about football for a moment. The only other sport that sort of matters in the SEC ranks is basketball. The Aggies may be able to compete here at times. They would still likely be no better than middle of the pack most years. In reality though roundball, except at Kentucky, is a bit of a side show in the SEC.

If those in College Station really wanted to compete in football perhaps they should have lobbied the Big East or Mountain West for admission. They might have opportunity for a BCS game here and there as members of the Big East and would perhaps be a good Mountain West team. Not ready to challenge a Boise State mind you, (not even close), but may be able to dominate New Mexico and Colorado State on a regular basis.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

How does a team keep their chins up after three heart breaking losses like the ones suffered by the Aggies? No not that silly group from College Station but rather the Aggies of Utah State. First the loss as time was expiring against the 'vaunted" Auburn Tigers, then a close loss to an inferior Colorado State club and now a heartbreaker against BYU. It is enough to put any team down in the dumps. The players and coaches are probably wondering if they are snake bit. The team certainly needs to learn how to kick an opponent when they are down instead of allowing them to get back up. That would for certain be a start. They need to learn how to finish.

With that being said, it should, in theory at least, get a bit easier. The Aggies meet Wyoming next week which is a team that they should be able to handle and then unfortunately meet with Pat Hill's Bulldogs. If they can get past that patch then they may just be able to run the table for the rest of the season and perhaps reach a bowl game.

Utah State is a better team than the record indicates. Much like Toledo over in the MAC, they are just having some unbelievable bad luck.